SAVANNAH, GA (January 12, 2015) Detectives have suspects in custody and a truckload of suspected stolen items, but they as asking the public’s help in identifying the victim after a SWAT team arrest this weekend.
The operation by the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department SWAT team to serve warrants from a Rincon, GA ended with two suspects in custody Saturday morning. But West Chatham Precinct detectives ended up with a pickup truck full of suspicious wire.
Justin Creed Van Arsdale, 24, and Michael Eugene Smart, 28, of Statesboro were taken into custody after a two-hour standoff with members of the Metro SWAT team at Van Ardsdale’s mobile home residence off Quacco Road on Red Cedar Court Saturday.
Patrol officers had gone to the residence Friday night at the request of Rincon authorities who had filed warrants against Van Ardsdale involving theft, drug and gun charges. The officers and Van Ardsdale made eye contact and the suspect barricaded himself inside the residence. Instead, Smart exited the residence and was detained.
Officers entered the residence after they had surrounded it and requested Van Ardsdale surrender. They found he had climbed through a hole in the floor and found him hiding under the trailer. When he again refused to exit, a Metro canine convinced him with a bite to his leg.
Van Ardsdale was treated for the bite wound and transferred to Effingham County. Smart was charged with obstruction and parole violation. He also has two warrants for contempt of court and is bveing held for Williamson County, IL, authorities.
A search of the residence yielded more than a dozen wire spools and bundles of unspooled and stripped wire that the suspects refused to discuss. Detectives are hoping the public can identify the wire by calling the West Chatham precinct at (912) 652-6560.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 652-6687 and most area clergy have agreed to serve as liaisons for anyone who would like to share information with police anonymously.
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